They have protected Scotland's centre left consensus as you admit yourself. Tell me though what centre left policies what you personally like to see the SNP put in place?

So you've got nothing for these new centre left policies... they've just not changed the existing basis that we've had under previous governments... wowza ground breaking stuff

I'm not sure where you're going with your last point... where have I said I want to see centre left policies.

You are engaging with me now - if you are to have limits, implement them and shut up.

I'm not sure what NEW centre left policies you expect to see. They've been in government for a decade now and have achieved results that none of the other administrations could have dreamed of. They've followed a centre left approach in the majority of their policies, on health, education, the environment, on equality legislation, the list goes on, however this is within the confines of having a economy which is in the control of a right wing tory government who also control welfare and the vast majority of taxation policy, on these areas the power to take a different route, as they have on other devolved areas, lies with London not the SNP. It's hardly reasonable for you to complain about the SNP not having centre left policies over areas that they don't have control of.

Regards you last comment you complain the SNP policies are not centre left, give some examples of what you expect a centre left government to do.

And virtually bankrupt - well done.

Ok I'll put you onto ignore. Your language is inflammatory and derogatory whilst your points are ignorant and wrong. A stereotypical bigoted individual.

Do so then.

They are still on record as wanting to reduce corporation tax, and airport tax. Those policies are right-wing policies.


Agree, and agreed. Not forgetting the impact of the council tax freeze, which was another favourite of the Tories. In fact, the Tories terminated the council tax freeze in England before the SNP did in Scotland.


Since when was the university population made up of the poorest in society? SNP policy has been to scrap the maintenance grants for the actual poorest students, so they too will end up in debt by the time they've paid four years worth of living expenses, and bought the necessary books etc. Free fees only take you so far, and for many that means no-where at all, because there aren't enough places available, because universities are under-funded, so need to take on fee paying students from England instead.

I'm OK with the government paying everyone's uni fees, but not at the expense of the poorest students losing their maintenance grants, and not at the expense of the quality of education at universities, schools and colleges. As this does not seem possible, should a left leaning government not prioritise the students from poor families over the students from the rich ones?

I don't care what come before as they were just as bad, I'm not arguing that the SNP are different I'm arguing that they are the same as the other parties.

Show me exactly how they differ from the Tories and Labour in any significant way?

Show me any policies that have benefited the lowest in the society at the expense of the richest or indeed show show me any of their policies that are radically different from what came before.

I listed a whole lot of broken promises that the SNP have made but I suppose it's easier to ignore that part rather than see the reality of it.

The only thing that makes the SNP different from the others is that they have independence in their agenda.

You mentioned education fees as if the Scottish government pays for everything but you fail to mention that it's only tuition fees, Scottish students still get loans and the poorest don't go to University in the proportions they do in England. In fact, one can reasonably argue that because of the cost the Scottish government quotas preclude many Scots from getting to university.

However, Alex Salmond made a granite plaque that said the Scottish Givernment would keep this situation forever and so the SNP are stuck with a failing policy.

Just one of many, no different from political parties everywhere and if we were independent I suspect it would be no different, except right now we would be less well,off than we are now.

What you fail to realise is that if you post something you have to be prepared for anyone to reply. Otherwise just put them on ignore.

Scotland is a highly educated EU country, some more than others it seems

Again talking down the Scottish governments new powers... they can now top-up existing benefits/look at new benefits, change income tax bands and rates and borrow.

If you think health and education are doing so well that other "administrations could have dreamed of", you're deluding yourself. There are real issues staff shortages in the NHS - doctors and nurses (hence the increased use of nurses from private agencies)

It was you who raised the NHS and education.... but according to you doing nothing different than previous administrations is proving their left of centre credentials. To me it just shows they're the same and all crowding the middle ground.

I would be interested to know what you think of free education for adults leaving school ?

I notice Alex Salmond was backing Nicole Sturgeon too stop The UK leaving the EU.

Someone tell me what power have they got too do that.

You can here it on LBC.

Interesting articles in the Evening Express and Press and Journal today. In the former concerns that a funding squeeze from Edinburgh could result in £80 million cuts over the next 5 years for NE councils. Meanwhile the P&J highlights an SNP stealth tax that will cost NE taxpayers millions and all of it heading to the central belt.

Wheels. Bandwagon. Off.

The fees policy is worse than that as the SNP allowed EU students to go fee free too. But then put a funding cap on to protect Government finances. The combination effectively stifles funding for Universities and limits places available to Scottish students. There simply aren't enough funded places for the numbers of Scots wanting to go to university.

Madness in the name of ideological and political point scoring

I've just read that, considering the downturn in this area this last few years or so, I don't think folk will take kindly to more of our money heading down to the central belt, it's about time it was spent on this area. I'm sick of all the focus being on the central belt by the SNP

I see the latest Poll of how the leaders are doing shows a shift towards Ruth Davidson in popularity fuelling speculation that she is off down south.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti..._campaign=1490

I cant really see her moving anywhere in the immediate future.

It never ceases to interest me where Scottish politics has gone over the years as it appears we are indeed a small c conservative country right now.

Meanwhile some SNP politicians in Scotland are getting wary about the SNP Group at Westminster lobbying for Mrs Thompson to be re-instated.

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.co...ted-1-4230960?

Are the SNP LibDems that believe in Independence?

Oi - I'm a Thompson, the English version and proud of it.

She's a Thomson.

She won't go south, she has no interest in doing so. She's top dog in Scotland, has a relaxed personal life (i.e. no constant press intrusion) and is doing well as leader of the Scottish Conservatives. Basically she has her dream job at the moment, and doesn't see any reason to leave it in the near future.

BIB - I note on the same poll, Theresa May is scoring higher than Nicola Sturgeon... who'd have thunk that.

Nicola's problem is that she is a one trick pony. She has only one card that she can keep playing and people get bored after a while.

I see her moving down in 2025. Labour's apoplexy at a third female Conservative leader will be delicious to watch.

Interesting that the paper reports it as popularity, but the questions ask about satisfaction. I'm satisfied with Ruth Davidson keeping the Tories at a low % of about 22% and even more satisfied at Dugdale taking Labour down to 11%. I'm very satisfied that Rennie is continuing to destroy the LDs. I'm not satisfied with Sturgeon for not being radical enough, and I'm satisfied with Harvie and Chapman for improving the visibility of the SGP. Only Sturgeon and Harvie are popular in my eyes.

It's easy to read the headlines but more often than not the papers are very misleading about the actual story, to suit their bias.

Didn't ask about Sturgeon's rating as leader of SNP, but did for Scottish labour/tory/libdem leaders BUT the 3 listed as party leaders aren't party leaders - also included the real tory & labour party leaders, May & Corbyn but not Rennie's leader .... bit of a mess!

If you are being pedantic they didn't ask about May's rating as leader of the Tory party.

For May and Sturgeon they asked how satisfied the respondents were on their performance as FM and PM.

When you compare their last poll on this in April with this one then it shows a 22 point decrease in net satisfaction for Sturgeon.